Some Kentucky food banks notice surge in demand

[Thom Little]

Demand for emergency food has risen in much of Kentucky, and food banks are bracing for another surge as the poor struggle amid rising costs for utilities and other necessities.

"We keep hearing that the economy is improving," said Denton Randall with Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville. "The business and investment economy may in fact be improving, but what I call the pants-pocket economy still has yet to improve for a lot of folks."

God's Pantry Food Bank in Lexington has noticed a double-digit increase in demand for food assistance, compared to a year ago, in the 49 counties in central and eastern Kentucky it serves, said Marian Blanchard, its executive director. God's Pantry distributes food to 350 nonprofit agencies - mostly food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. She said those agencies report an upswing in first-time clients.

"I just truly believe that lots of Kentuckians will be making choices between heating or eating, and those aren't choices that people should be forced to make," Blanchard said.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KY_FEEDING_THE_HUNGRY_KYOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-22-00-09-18

[TheGunslinger]

1. Denton Randall is a top-notch dude!